Dogs One Win Away From Berth In Western Conference Final
May 14, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
The Hamilton Bulldogs (American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) will continue their quest for the Calder Cup this week against the Manitoba Moose (AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks) in their North Division Final series. The Bulldogs lead the series 3-2 and now head back to Winnipeg for Game's 6 and 7 (if necessary) at the MTS Centre. Hamilton will battle Manitoba in Game 6 tonight (Monday, May 14th) at 8:30 p.m. and Game 7 (if necessary) is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16th at 8:30 p.m.
The scene of the North Division Final series shifted to Copps Coliseum last week where the 'Dogs hosted Games 3, 4 and 5. The Bulldogs lost back-to-back 3-2 tilts on Tuesday and Saturday night before rebounding in Game 5 on Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 triumph.
The winner of the Manitoba-Hamilton North Division Final series will advance to the Western Conference Final to take on the Chicago Wolves, who defeated the Iowa Stars in six games in the West Division Final last week.
BULLDOGS CALDER CUP PLAYOFF ACTION ON CABLE 14!
Tonight, Game 6 of the Bulldogs North Division Final Series with the Manitoba Moose can be seen LIVE at 8:30 p.m. from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on Cable 14 in Hamilton and Stoney Creek. Don't miss a second of the action as the Bulldogs aim to oust the Moose from the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs!
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Tuesday, May 8th - MANITOBA MOOSE 3 @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2
Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON
Hamilton Goals: Danny Groulx (2), Corey Locke (6)
Manitoba Goals: Brad Moran (4), Mike Keane (2), Yannick Tremblay (3)
Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (L - 28 shots, 25 saves) / Manitoba - Drew MacIntyre (8 shots, 6 saves), Wade Flaherty (W - 19 shots, 19 saves)
Power Play: Hamilton 0-5 / Manitoba 2-6
Attendance: 2,177
Saturday, May 12th - MANITOBA MOOSE 3 @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2
Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON
Hamilton Goals: Danny Groulx (3), Kyle Chipchura (2)
Manitoba Goals: J.J. Hunter (1), Lee Goren (4), Prestin Ryan (2)
Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (L - 23 shots, 20 saves) / Manitoba - Wade Flaherty (W - 29 shots, 27 saves)
Power Play: Hamilton 1-4 / Manitoba 1-4
Attendance: 3,270
Sunday, May 13th - MANITOBA MOOSE 1 @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS 3
Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON
Hamilton Goals: Dan Jancevski (1), Mathieu Biron (2), Ajay Baines (3)
Manitoba Goals: Brandon Reid (1)
Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (W - 37 shots, 36 saves) / Manitoba - Drew MacIntyre (L - 27 shots, 25 saves)
Power Play: Hamilton 1-4 / Manitoba 0-7
Attendance: 1,703
BULLDOGS NOTES:
- The 'Dogs 3-1 victory on Sunday, marked the 60th post-season win in franchise history
- G Carey Price's 36-save performance in Game 5 earned him his seventh win of the 2007 Calder Cup playoffs, placing him third in the league in that category
- C Corey Locke is tied for sixth in 2007 Calder Cup playoff scoring with 13 points (6-7-13) in 11 games and is tied for third in playoff goals (6). Locke is also on a four-game playoff scoring streak (May 6-13) with five points (1-4-5) in that span
- D Danny Groulx is tied for eighth among AHL defencemen in playoff scoring with seven points (3-4-7) in 11 games
- C Ajay Baines has a point in each of his last three games (1-2-3)
HAMILTON BULLDOGS SCHEDULE:
GAME 6: Monday, May 14th, 2007 - 8:30 p.m. - Hamilton Bulldogs at Manitoba Moose (MTS Centre)
*GAME 7: Wednesday, May 16th, 2007 - 8:30 p.m. - Hamilton Bulldogs at Manitoba Moose (MTS Centre)
*If Necessary
'DOGS & MOOSE PLAYOFF NOTES: - Hamilton currently leads Manitoba in the best-of-seven North Division Final 3-2
- This is the second Calder Cup playoff meeting between the Bulldogs and Moose (Hamilton won the only previous Calder Cup series, 4-3 in the conference semi-finals in 2003)
- Manitoba has a 30-27 win-loss record in five Calder Cup playoff appearances
- The Bulldogs were 4-3-1-0 overall in eight games against Manitoba during the 2006-07 regular season (3-1-0-0 against the Moose at home). Each team posted 22 goals
- The Moose had the best penalty killing unit in the entire AHL during the 2006-07 regular season, killing off 89.7% of their penalties
- Manitoba had a regular season record of 45-23-7-5 with 102 points and finished first in the North Division
- LW Jason Jaffray leads the Moose attack in the Calder Cup playoffs with 11 points (6-5-11) in nine games and is tied for first in playoff scoring with six goals
- D Yannick Tremblay is sixth among AHL defencemen in scoring with six points (2-4-6) in eight games
- There are currently three Ontario natives on the Manitoba roster: RW Brendan Brooks (St. Catharines), and defencemen Matt Kelly (Tottenham) and Dustin Wood (Scarborough); Also head coach Scott Arniel (Kingston)
- There are two former Bulldogs playing on the Moose: C J.J. Hunter played three seasons for the Bulldogs (2001-02, 2002-03, 2005-06) and G Dov Grumet-Morris played two games for the Bulldogs earlier this season
ALUMNI WATCH:
There are 60 former Bulldogs who have participated in at least one game in the National Hockey League this season. There are 15 that qualified for the NHL playoffs. Over 60 percent of all former 'Dogs have played in at least one NHL game. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments of ex-'Dogs from the third round of the 2007 NHL Playoffs:
- Detroit RW Daniel Cleary (2-5-7) had two assists vs. Anaheim (May 13) in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final
- Anaheim D Francois Beauchemin (3-1-4) had two shots and two penalty minutes against Detroit (May 11) in a 2-1 loss in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final; had two shots and a plus-3 rating vs. Detroit (May 13) in Game 2 of Western Conference Final
There are 6 former Bulldogs competing for their respective countries at the 2007 IIHF World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments from the tournament:
- LW Jason Chimera (Canada) had an assist, a plus-1 rating and two penalty minutes vs. Switzerland (May 10) in a 5-1 quarter-final win
- D Alexander Zhurik (Belarus) had two shots on goal vs. Germany (May 7) in a 6-5 loss
- LW Antti Miettinen (Finland) was a plus-1 vs. USA (May 10) in a 5-4 overtime quarter-final win; had a goal and four shots vs. Canada (May 13) in a 4-2 Gold Medal game loss
TUNE IN TO Every Game on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network:
Fans can listen to every 'Dogs playoff game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM "The Legend" beginning with the 'Park's Furniture Pre-Game Show', 30 minutes prior to each game.
Fans can also listen to or watch every playoff game online at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. To watch or listen online, click on the 'B2 Networks' or '820 CHAM' icon on the 'Dogs website. Ellery Award-winning broadcaster Derek Wills will provide the play-by-play call and Al Craig will join Derek as a colour commentator for the remainder of the Bulldogs season.
GET YOUR TICKETS!:
If the Bulldogs should advance, dates and times of Hamilton's next round of Calder Cup Playoff action will be announced immediately following the game. Bulldogs playoff tickets for the Western Conference Final can be pre-ordered now by contacting the Bulldogs Office by phone at 905.777.2374 or via email at tickets@hamiltonbulldogs.com. For Season Ticket Holders, the first game of this series would be Round 3, Home Game A.
MOLSON CUP - THREE STAR LEADERS (PLAYOFFS): (1st Star - 5pts, 2nd Star - 3pts, 3rd Star - 1pt)
Player : Points:
1. Carey Price 16
2. Corey Locke 13
3. Maxim Lapierre 5
3. Eric Manlow 5
5. Cory Urquhart 3
5. Ryan O'Byrne 3
5. Kyle Chipchura 3
8. Mikhail Grabovski 2
9. Danny Groulx 1
10. Zack Stortini 1
PEARSON-DUNN PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME LEADERS (PLAYOFFS): (10 pts. - Hardest Working Hamilton Bulldogs player)
Player: Points:
1. Jonathan Ferland 30
2. Maxim Lapierre 20
3. Carey Price 15
4. Dan Jancevski 10
4. Ajay Baines 10
4. Mathieu Biron 10
4. Eric Manlow 10
8. Duncan Milroy 5
American Hockey League Stories from May 14, 2007
- Bulldogs Will Battle Wolves In Western Conference Final - Hamilton Bulldogs
- 'Dogs down Moose in overtime, win series 4-2 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Wolves Face Bulldogs in Western Conference Final - Chicago Wolves
- AHL announces Western Conference Final schedule - AHL
- P-Bruins Fall to Monarchs 2-1 - Providence Bruins
- MONARCHS AND BEARS TO MEET IN EAST FINAL - Hershey Bears
- Monarchs Face-Off With Hershey In Eastern Conference Finals - Manchester Monarchs
- Monarchs Win Atlantic Division Championship Playoff Series - Manchester Monarchs
- AHL announces Eastern Conference Final schedule - AHL
- Three Knights Nominated For Ironman Award - Abbotsford Heat
- Wild signs RW Matt Kassian - Houston Aeros
- Monarchs Weekly Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Dogs One Win Away From Berth In Western Conference Final - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Cable 14 To Broadcast Game Six Between The Bulldogs And Moose Live Tonight - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Boychuk nominated for 2007 InterContinental Hotels Group Ironman Award - Albany River Rats
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Hendry Nominated For 2007 Intercontinental Hotels Ironman Award - Norfolk Admirals
- Sound Tigers Hire New Equipment Manager - Bridgeport Islanders
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